Cuban cigars in the USA

[hedgeybaby]

58 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

It was a long time between each letter.  The first letter basically said, we know you have been buying Cuban cigars and please send us a list of all of the Cuban cigars you bought.  

I wrote them back a letter saying that I reserve my right to not incriminate myself.  

The next letter I got had a list of cigars I bought, along with how much I paid for them. They said they were going to fine me the total amount I paid for the cigars on their list, unless I can give them extenuating circumstances or reasons they might consider to lower the amount of the fine.

I wrote them a letter back saying that I just bought a new home and the expense of the fine would be a hardship.  Then I waited a long time for the final letter, saying the issue has been resolved and not to do it anymore.

I dont know if this had anything to do with it, but during that long wait, Bush had left office and the Obama administration had taken over.

Orwellian!

 

[SigmundChurchill]

14 minutes ago, hedgeybaby said:

Orwellian!

 

Yes.  All boxes that they listed were from the same vendor.  It was happening to other people during the same time period.  We all figured that they got hold of the credit card charges, which would explain how they knew how much we paid.

If you google “OFAC letter” you will likely find more stories like mine.

[CaskStrength]

8 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Yes.  All boxes that they listed were from the same vendor.  It was happening to other people during the same time period.  We all figured that they got hold of the credit card charges, which would explain how they knew how much we paid.

If you google “OFAC letter” you will likely find more stories like mine.

Guaranteed.  A certain popular payment processing service is even worse for selling people out to government agencies.  It's a pity cyrpto is so volatile as it's a great solution to make it harder for these agencies to follow the money.  Damn shame you had to go through that just to enjoy some cigars though.

[Baccy]

7 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

I got a letter from Homeland Security back around 2006.  There were no confiscations, but they knew exactly which cigars I bought and how much I paid.  They threatened to fine me the price of the cigars.  I sent them a reply, and they sent me a reply back.  This went on for a couple of years until finally I got a letter saying they were going to drop it, and basically telling me not to do it again.  

Ahh, the "good ole days" lol...

[OZCUBAN]

Make the most of it whilst you can over here we can brink in 2 cigars after that it’s something  like $500 per kilo from memory going up another 12%next month 

so much for democracy ?

[Pag]

Sounds like a waste of stamps . Lot bigger things to worry about.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, OZCUBAN said:

Make the most of it whilst you can over here we can brink in 2 cigars after that it’s something  like $500 per kilo from memory going up another 12%next month 

so much for democracy ?

$500? Where the heck have you been? This isn't 2014/15. Double it and try again.

[hedgeybaby]

8 hours ago, CaskStrength said:

Guaranteed.  A certain popular payment processing service is even worse for selling people out to government agencies.

I haven't been able to see the letters but I would take a bet it was Mastercard.

When I worked in online gambling, they made life difficult.

[OZCUBAN]

12 hours ago, Fuzz said:

$500? Where the heck have you been? This isn't 2014/15. Double it and try again.

Haha ? I don’t pay much attention nowadays the post was done on the fly at work thanks for correcting me ,the situation is worse than I thought ?

your a number cruncher Chris since this abomination of a tax rule started how much have they gone up total 

the bottom line for me is for the most part that cigars have become unaffordable sad but true F#%ken government 

[BeerPimp]

Just looked up the excise rate of Cigars into Australia.   Holy cow starting 1/9/2018 it is $1076.38/kg.